The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon of "ff"

Yesterday I posted “ffinch-ffarrowmere,” corrected the visitor, his sensitive ear detecting the capital letters. regarding the old English very occasional habit of using "ff" lower case as part of a name.  

In a startling example of the Baader–Meinhof phenomenon, I come across an example today as I briefly dip into an historical genealogical document.  The Ludlams came over from Derbyshire, England in the 1630s and eventually settled on Long Island.  The Ludlam, Bayless, and Higby families were thoroughly intermixed in Long Island before they collectively moved into New Jersey and then southwards.

The document I am reading is the will, in England, of Edmund Flint whose daughter married a Ludlam.  

Will of Edmunde fflint of Matlocke in co. Derby, yeoman.  Dated 27 March 1628.  Pro. 9 April 1632.  To be buried in the parish where it shall please God I shall depart this life.  To my brother Robert fflint house he now dwells in, the yard and Crofte next the house that his tenters stand now in, for his life, he paying 1 shilling a year rent unto Edmonde Ludlame, son of Thomas Ludlame, to whom I give same after said Robert's death.  

To wife Elizabeth and to Edmund Ludlame for their lives the house which I dwell in with orchard, garden, barn, etc., etc., with remainder to heirs of Edmund Ludlame, being copyhold land paying two shillings and two pence a year to the king. To wife Elizabeth & Edmund Ludlame all freehold land for their lives, with remainder as before, paying to my daughter ffrances Ludlam 5 shilling a year during her life. To son-in-law Thomas Ludlam and daughter ffrances Ludlam each 5 shillings.  Wyfe Elizabeth & Edmund Ludlame Res. Legs. & Executors.  Supervisors: my friends Richard, Anthony & ffrancis Senior.  Witness: Anthony Senior, Thomas Millwarde, ffrancis Ashmore & Philip Barnes. 

Inventory taken xxiiij ffebruary 1631 by Anthony Senior, William Ludlam and Anthony Cotterell.  Sum tot. xxiiij" ijs. 

The Ludlam references in the above and other wills suggest the kindred of William and Grace Ludlam, the children of William and Clarence Ludlam of Matlock, who came over in the "Triall" in 1648, the said William then aged 20 years, landed in Boston in July of that year, and afterwards settled in Southampton, L. I., where William the father (who had probably preceded them) died, as we learn by depositions taken in 1701-2.  I shall have more to say of this very interesting family, in a later number of these gleanings. 

It appears to me that Edmund Flint and his wife were living in the home of Edmund Ludlam.  Edmund Ludlam's son, Thomas Ludlam, was married to Edmund Flint's daughter Francis Flint Ludlam and also likely lived in the household of Edmund Ludlam.  

A better way to put it would be that Edmund Ludlam had in his home his son, Thomas and his wife Francis Flint Ludlam, as well as her parents (Edmund Flint and Elizabeth Flint).  When Edmund Flint passed away, he took care of his brother Robert Flint.   He also put his land at the disposal and for the benefit of his wife Elizabeth and the master of the household, Edmund Ludlam.  However, on the death of Elizabeth, all the property was to be inherited by his daughter Francis and his son-in-law Thomas Ludlam.  

Regardless, scattered throughout is that peculiarity of the double-ff lower case in place of the capital F:

fflint for Flint

ffrances for Frances

ffrancis for Francis

ffebruary for February